Foldable crate.



E. T. BOND.

FOLDABLE OBATB.

APPLICATION FILED r3349, 1914.

1,127,582. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS co. FHOTO-LITHQ. WASHING IUN, D. c,

E. T. BOND.

FOLDABLE CRATE.

APPLICATION IILED FEB. 19, 1914.

'HE NORRIS PETERS -LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

E. T. BOND.

FOLDABLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19,1914.

1,127,582. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

- 4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

I Q Q s Q 5 if MW f f fi 11 11 THE NORRIS PETFRS C0 PHOTO-LITHll.WASHINGrON. D. l

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

rl/ll All B. T. BOND.

. FOLDABLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1914.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

' "HE NORRIS PETERS Ca. FHOTO-LITHO., WASHING ran. 1;.

EDGAR 'I. BOND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDAIBLE CRATE.

Application filed February 19, 1914.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR T. BOND, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Crates, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to foldable crates or receptacles designed moreespecially for transportation and storage purposes, but which areadapted for use and can be used for other purposes.

The objects of the invention are: To construct a crate that will belight and at the same time strong, durable and easily handled andmanipulated in use; to enable the crate or receptacle to be unfolded orset up for use and folded to occupy but little space, and this withoutany trouble or inconvenience, and have both operations readily andquickly performed; to form the top and sides of the crate or receptacleof bars or rods of metal or other suitable material having sufficientrigidity to furnish the necessary strength for the crate or receptaclewhen unfolded or set up; to form two opposite sides of the crate orreceptacle from two corner posts and cross-bars, the corner posts eachpivoted at its lower end to fold downwardly and inwardly, and formingthe other two opposite sides of the crate or receptacle from two cornerposts and crossbars, the corner posts each pivoted at its lower end tofold downwardly and inwardly, the pivots for one set of corner postsbeing in a higher plane than the pivots of the other set of cornerposts; to form each corner post of two members separated or spaced apartto furnish a longitudinal opening between the members, into whichopening is entered and secured the ends of the cross-rods or bars forthe sides of the crate or receptacle; to furnish a top movably connectedwith the sides of the crate or receptacle so as to be raised and loweredwith the unfolding and folding of the crate or receptacle; to furnishthe top with a small opening and a closure therefor for giving access tothe interior of the crate or receptacle when in use without opening orremoving the top as a whole; to furnish additional braces when required,for maintaining the crate or receptacle in its unfolded Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

Serial NO. 819,703.

operative condition; and to improve generally the construction,arrangement and operatlon of the several parts entering into theformation of the crate or receptacle as a whole.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinationsof parts here lnafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top or plan view showing the crate orreceptacle in its unfolded or raised position; Fig. 2, a side elevation,partly broken away, of the crate or receptacle in its unfolded or raisedposition; Fig. 3, a sectional elevation of the crate or receptacle inits unfolded or raised position on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the top orcover partly open; Fig. 4, a side elevation, partly broken away as inFig. 2, showing the crate or receptacle in the act of being folded; Fig.5, a detail, partly in section, showing the hinge or connection for theswinging section of the cover or closure; Fig. 6, a top or plan view ofthe hinge or connection of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 an enlarged detail on line77 of Fig. 2, partly in section, of one corner of the crate orreceptacle, showing the form and arrangement of the corner posts.

In the drawings similar reference numerals indicate corresponding parts.

The crate or receptacle, in the construe tion shown, has a bottom 1, tothe upper face of which at the edges on two sides are securedcross-pieces or strips 2 and 3, and at the middle a cross-piece at, andto the edges of the other two sides cross-pieces 5, corresponding to thecross-pieces 2 and 3. These cross-pieces or strips are for the purposeof furnishing a mounting for the corner 'posts and to give greaterrigidity to the bottom, where thin material is used, but they could bedispensed with if the bottom was made of sufficiently thick material.

At each of the four corners of the crate or receptacle is a post orstandard 6, formed as shown of two members or sections separated apartso as to leave a space or opening 7 between the members or sections.Each post or standard is of a tubular shape as shown, but could be ofother shape and either hollow or solid, as may be desired. At eachcorner of the crate or receptacle, diagonally to each corner post 6, isa post 8, also formed, as shown, of two members or sections separatedapart so as to leave a space or opening 9 between the members orsections; and these posts or standards 8 can be of a tubular shape, asshown, or of some other shape, and either hollow or solid.

Each corner post 6 and 8 has entered into and secured in its lower end astem 10 having an eye 11, which enters a space between two eyes 12 onstems 13, entered into the crossstrips or pieces 2 and 3 and securedtherein in the construction and arrangement shown. These eyes 11 and 12furnish the pivotal point for the posts or standards 6 and 8 to befolded downwardly and inwardly to occupy a horizontal position and to beunfolded and raised to occupy a vertical position. The pivot or hingefor each post or standard 6 is completed by a rod or wire 14-, extendingas shown across the crate or receptacle and passing through the eyes 11and 1 2; and the pivot or hinge for each post or standard 8 is completedby a rod or wire 15 extending as shown across the crate or receptacle atright angle to the rod or wire 14 and passing through the eyes 11 and 12of each post or standard 8, the rod or wire 14: passing through the eyes11 and 12 of each post or standard 6. It is to be noted that the rod orwire 14 furnishing the pivot for the posts 6 is in a higher plane thanthe rod or wire 15 furnishing the pivot for the posts 8, by whicharrangement the posts or standards 8 can be turned down into ahorizontal plane for the posts or standards 6 to overlie them whenturned down, which enables the crate or receptacle to be closely foldedwhen desired or required.

The construction and arrangement shown has a middle post or standard16on each side, which can be similar in construction to the posts orstandards 6 and 8, or can be a single member as shown, and each post orstandard 16 is pivotally mounted at its lower end by eyes 11 and 12 anda rod or wire 14 or 15 so as to be folded and unfolded with the posts orstandards 6 and 8 in the operation of the crate.

Two opposite sides of the crate or receptacle are each formed of rods orbars 17 passing through the corner posts or standards 6 and through oradjacent to the midway post or standard 16, and secured at their ends inthe space or opening 7 of the posts or standards by split keys 18passing through the rods or bars and the posts or standards 6 and 16 inthe construction shown: but the rods or bars 17 could be otherwisefastened to the posts or standards. The other two opposite sides of thecrate or receptacle are each formed of rods or bars 19 passing throughthe corner posts or standards 8 and through or adjacent to the midwaypost or standard 16 and secured at their ends in the space or opening 9of the posts or standards'by'split keys 20, pass for the other two sidesof the support, with the bars or rods 21 as shown underlying the bars orrods 22. These bars or rods 21 and 22 form the support by means of whichthe cover proper as a whole is held in place and are attachedrespectively to the corner and middle posts or uprights 6 and 16 and 8and 16 by split keys 18 and 20, as shown, but they could be otherwiseattached to the posts. The frame for the cover is formed on two sides bybars or rods 23, which may be wire or other suitable material spacedapart to receive in the space between them the posts or uprights 8 ontwo sides of the crate, and on the other two sides by bars or rods 24,which may also be wire or other suitable material, spaced apart toreceive in the space between them the posts or uprights 6 on two sidesof the crate, and the frame is completed by central bars or rods 25 and25 also of wire or other suitable material spaced apart, the space between the bars or rods receiving the middle posts 16 on two sides of thecrate and the space between the bars or rods 25 receiving the posts oruprights 16 on the other two sides of the crate. As shown, the bars orrods 23 and 25* are crossed by the bars or rods 2% and 25, and thesebars or rods 23, 24c, 25 and 25 are located below the bars or rods 21and 22, the bars or rods 21 overlying the bars or rods 24 and 25 and thebars or rods 22 overlying the bars or rods 23 and 25*, with the posts oruprights 8 free to move or swing in the space between the bars or rods23, and the posts or uprights 6 free to move or swing in the spacebetween the bars or rods 2%, permitting the supporting bars or rods 21and 22 to be carried up and down with the posts or uprights 6 and 8 toraise and lower the cover as a whole,the upward movement of the posts oruprights 6 and 8 raising the cover and the downward movement of theposts or uprights lowering the cover.

The cover proper is made in four sections or quarters. One section hasside bars or rods 26 and 27 and its companion section has side bars orrods 28 and 29, with cross-wires 30 between the side bars or rods 26 and27 and between the side bars or rods 28 and 29, such cross-wires 30extending from the side bar or rod 26 to the side bar or rod 29 andthrough the bars or rods 27 and 28 in the form shown for one-half of thecover, but, if desired, these cross-wires 30 need not extend beyond thebars or rods 27 and 28 and could terminate at said bars or rods. Eachsection has wires 31 extending over and cross wise to the wires 30 andforming with the wires 30 a grating. The wires 31 are entered into sidebars or rods 32 located above and crossing the wires 26, 27, 28 and 29,and extending across and over the frame bars or rods 23 and 25 for theouter side bar or rod 32, and terminating at the bars or rods 23 for theinner side bar or rod, which completes one-half of the cover;'and it isto be understood that the side bars or rods 26, 27, 28, 29 and 32 can beheavy wire or other suitable material. The other half section of thecover has an upper portion formed of quarter sections; one quartersection consists of side bars 33 with cross-wires 34 extending from sidebar to side bar; the other quarter section consists of side bars 35 withcross-wires 36 extending from side bar to side bar. The side bars 33 and35 are joined or connected at their inner ends by a joint or hinge sothat either quarter section can be raised and lowered one section beingshown raised in Fig. 3 so as to permit the under quarter section to beraised for access to the interior of the crate. The half section iscompleted by under quarter sections; and each under quarter sectionconsists of side bars 37 in right angle relation to the side bars 33 and35, with cross-wires 38 extending from sidebar to side bars for thecross-wires 38 to form with the cross-wires 3 1 and 36 a grating. Theside bars 37 are pivotally mounted on a wire 39 common to all of theside bars 38, and furnishing a pivot on which each under quarter sectionof the cover can be raised when the companion upper quarter section israised as shown in Fig. 3, where an upper and an under quarter sectionare in raised position. The side bars 33 and 35 can be tubes, and theirinner ends are joined or hinged one to the other by a joint or hingewhich, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, consists of a member having a stem orpin 40 entered into the end of the side bar tube 35, and secured thereinby rivets 11, or otherwise. The projected end of the stem or pin 410 hasa slotted head 12 furnishing ears through which passes a pin or pivote3, which also passes through an ear 44 entered into the slot of thehead 42, and this ear 44 is on the projected end of a stem or pin 45,entered into the end of the side bar tube 33, and secured therein byrivets 46 or otherwise.

The construction shown has on two opposite sides of the crate a diagonalbrace rod 47 and each brace rod at its upper end has an eye or loop 18,which is entered onto a pin 49, projecting from the outer end of theupper bar or rod 19 and at its lower end has an eye or loop 50 which isentered onto a pin 51 projecting from the end of the pivot rod 15; andthe eyes or loops 18 and 50 can be held against slipping from the pins49 and 51 by a wire winding or in some other suitable manner. Thesebrace rods or bars l7 serve to stiffen and strengthen the crate and alsofurnish additional means for holding the corner posts 8 upright when thecrate is in use or unfolded. The other two opposite sides of the cratealso have diagonal brace rods 52, and each brace rod 52 at its upper endhas an eye or loop 53, which is entered onto a pin 54, projecting fromthe outer end of the upper cross-bar or rod 17, and at its lower end hasan eye or loop 55, which is entered onto a pin 56 projecting from theend of the pivot rod l t, and the eyes or loops 53 and 55 can be heldfrom slipping off the pins 5 1 and 56 by a Wire winding or otherwise.These brace rods or bars 52 serve to stiffen and strengthen the crate,and also furnish additional means for holding the corner posts 6 uprightwhen the crate is in use or unfolded.

Instead of employing diagonal brace rods or bars, corner brace rods orbars can be used, or where great strength and rigidity is wanted boththe diagonal brace rods or bars and the corner brace rods or bars can beused. The corner brace rodsv or bars 57 can be made of metal tubing orother suitable material, and each rod or bar 57 has at its lower end aneye or loop 58 adapted to be entered on a pin 51 projecting from theouter end of the pivot rod 15, or on a pin 56 projecting from the outerend of the pivot rod 14:, as may be desired. The upper end of each bracerod or bar 57 is connected with the post 6 or the post 8 by a yokeshaped connection 59, one member 60 of which is entered into the upperend of the brace rod or bar 57 and the other member 61 of which isentered into the upper end. of a post 6 or a post 8, or if desired abrace rod or bar 57 may be provided for both cornerposts 6 and 8; butfor ordinary use such brace rod or bar need be applied to the cornerposts 6 or to the corner posts 8 only. As shown in Fig. 1, the bracerods or bars 57 are applied to two of the corner posts 8, and as shownin Fig. 2 they are applied to two of the corner posts 6, but they can beapplied to all of the corner posts 6 or corner posts 8 if required ornecessary to obtain the proper strength and rigidity for the crate whenin use or unfolded. It will be understood that the brace rods or bars 6Hand 52, or the brace rods or bars 57, are applied after the crate israised or unfolded, and are removed when the crate is to be folded. Thebrace rods or bars are held on the pins by locking or winding wires 62(see Fig. 2), one end of a wire 62 being attached to the of a split keyand the other end wound around the pin, in such manner as to prevent theeye or loop of the brace rod or bar from slipping off the pin. Thecrosswires forming the grating of the cover can be held in .place bywire windings ,63, as shown in Fig. 2, or in any other suitable manner.

The cover is raised and lowered with the raising and lowering of thesides of the crate; and in raising and lowering the sides of the cratethe corner posts 6 are free to move in the space between the borderwires or rods 24: of the cover, and the posts 8 are free to move in thespace between the border Wires 2-3 of the cover, and with the up anddown movement of the corner posts the frame rods or bars 21' and 22supporting the cover move up and down with the cor ner posts raising andlowering the cover.

The crate is folded by swinging the corner posts 6 downward and inwardon the pivot rods 14, and swinging the corner posts 8 downward andinward on the pivot rods 15, bringing the sides of the crate into afolded position as shown in 4t; and in folding the crate the brace rodsor bars are removed. The crate is unfolded by swinging the corner posts6 and. S upward into a vertical position on the pivot rods 14: and 15,and after the sides of the crate are raised into a vertical position thebrace rods or bars are applied as hereinbefore described. The crate canbe filled and emptied through the cover, by raising one or more quartersections of the cover to obtain access to the interior of the crate, todo which it is only necessary to remove the supporting side rods of thecover. The cover, instead of being movably held, could be a removablecover if so desired.

The advantages pertaining to the crate of the present invention areapparent and need not be described in detail. Suffice it to say that thecrate or receptacle can be readily and quickly unfolded and folded, isvery strong and durable, and, at the same time, light and easilyhandled, and when folded can be stored away and occupy but a small spacein a room or other storing place.

It is not the intention to limit, restrict, restrain or confine theparts entering into the present invention for sole use in foldablecrates, and under the word crate is included coops for chickens, cratesfor the transportation of berries, vegetables, and other commodities,receptacles, carrying cases for eggs, folding boxes, cases or crates forthe delivery of packages or bundles commonly put up in grocery stores,meat markets, and other retail stores, and other articles in any generalmerchandise line of business, and for commercial use in the delivery ofpackages to customers, patrons and consumers.

The gist of the present invention is in the construction and arrangementof the corner posts and foldable sides of the crate, so as to folddownwardly and inwardly and to be raised into a vertical position; inthe special construction and mounting of the cover to be raisedandlowered with theraising and lowering of the sides of the crate; inmaking the cover in hinged sections; and in the bracing of the sides ofthe crate when raised.- w J What I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent isi 1. In a foldable crate, the combination of a bottom,atop, eight corner posts, two for each corner of the crate, each cornerpost pivotally mounted at its lower end adjacent to the bottom, of the'crate to fold downwardly and inwardly and to be raised into a verticalposition, and each corner post consisting of two members spaced apart,and a plurality of crossrbars for each two companion corner posts withthe ends of the bars entered into and secured in the space between themembers of the posts,- the eight corner posts and the four series ofcross-bars forming the four sides of the crate, substantially asdescribed.

2.v In a foldable crate, the combination of a bottom, eight cornerposts, two for each corner of the crate, eachlco rner post pivotallymounted atits lower end adjacent to the bottom of the crate to folddownwardly and inwardly and to be raised into a vertical position, andeach corner post consisting of; two members spaced apart, a midway postfor each side of the crate, each midway post pivotally mounted at itslower end adjacent to the bottom of the crate to fold downwardly andinwardly and to be raised into a vertical position coincident with thefolding and raising of the corner posts, and a plurality ,ofcross-barsfor each two companion posts and secured to the corner posts and themidway side post, the eight corner posts, the four midway side posts andthe four series of cross-bars forming the four sides of the crate,substantially as described.

3. In a foldable crate, thecombination of a bottom, eight corner posts,two for each corner of the cr, ate, each corner post piv otally mountedat its lower end adjacent to the bottom and downwardly and inwardlyfoldable and adapted to be raised into a vertical position, and eachcorner post c011- sisting of two members spaced apart, a plurality ofcross-bars for each .two companion corner posts with the ends of thebars ontered into and secured in the space between the members of thep.o sts,the eight corner posts and the four series of cross-bars formingthe four sides of the crate, and exterior braces for the sides of thecrate, substantially as described.

4:. In a foldable crate, a cover consisting of supporting side rodscrossing each other, border side rods spaced apart on the four sides ofthe cover, and a sectional cover proper, each section formed of sidebars and cross-wires, one set of side bars and cross- Wires above theother set, and the two sets of cross-wires coacting to furnish agrating, substantially as described.

5. In a foldable crate, a cover consisting of supporting cross-rodscrossing each other, border side rods spaced apart on the four sides ofthe cover, and a sectional cover proper formed of side bars and crosswires, one set of side bars and cross-wires above the other set, the twosets of cross-wires coacting to furnish a grating, one-half of thesectional cover having hinged quarter sections adapted to be raised foraccess to the interior of the crate when the supporting side rods areremoved, substantially as described.

6. In a foldable crate, the combination of a bottom, foldable cornerposts and sides, and a top raised and lowered with the raising andlowering of the corner posts and sides, said top consisting ofsupporting side rods crossing each other, border side rods spaced apartand receiving into the spaces the corner posts, and a sectional coverproper, each section formed of side bars and cross-wires, one set ofside bars and cross- Wires above the other set, the two sets ofcross-Wires coacting to furnish a grating, substantially as described.

G. J. THOMSON, LAWRENCE B. BRADY.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

